Paper food container

ABSTRACT

A food container has an integrated lid and an arcuate recess. The arcuate recess provides a sightline to determine when the container is full and cooperates with the lid when the lid is closed. The lid of the food container is integrally formed with a wall section of the food container. A score line separates the lid section from the wall section, and the lid section can be moved from an open position to a closed position by folding along the score line. The score line preferably extends partially about the container between first and second points on an upper edge of the container, and the arcuate recess extends about the remainder of the container between the first and second points on the upper edge of the container.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This Application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent ApplicationSer. No. 60/683,195, filed May 20, 2005 and entitled Paper FoodContainer, the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONS

1. Field of the Inventions

The inventions relates generally to containers for food products and,more particularly, to a container that is configured to enclose foodplaced therein with an integrated lid.

2. Description of the Related Art

Food containers are often used in the restaurant industry for holdingvarious types of food, such as french fries, hash browns, onion rings,and other finger foods. Restaurants commonly use containers with opentops to hold such food when providing it to the consumer. For example,some restaurants provide finger foods to the consumer in a cup thatincludes a plastic lid.

Existing products that are used by restaurants have severalshortcomings. First, the open food containers that are used increase thelikelihood that the food contained therein will be spilled by either anemployee or the consumer. Additionally, the open food containers exposeheated foods to ambient air and, consequently, the food quickly cools.This may be undesirable for a consumer who intends to purchase the foodat the establishment and eat the food at his or her home. When theconsumer arrives at home, the food may have cooled.

Another shortcoming of the food containers that are often used byrestaurants is that the food containers may be configured with aseparate lid. These food containers may be configured as a beverage cupwith a plastic lid. This configuration may make it difficult for theconsumer to access the food with one hand. The consumer is required tohold the cup with one hand and with the other hand grasp the lid andremove it from the food container. When the consumer decides to coverthe food container, the consumer is required to hold the food containerwith one hand and grasp the lid with a second hand to place the lid onthe food container. Additionally, the consumer runs the risk of losingor damaging the lid, which would render the food container lidless orthe lid inoperable.

Some restaurants use folded food containers that are folded in order toplace the food therein. Several of these folded designs have openings onthe base through which grease, sauce, dressing, or other liquids mayleak. Additionally, several of the folded designs are not configured tofit in a cup holder.

The existing products also have several shortcomings with respect tousage by employees in preparation of the food. For example, with severalcurrent designs, employees are required to use a separate two-way scoopwhereby they scoop the food after it is prepared and slide it into thefood container. When the food is provided in an overhead bin, theemployees also may have difficulty determining when the food is filledin the food container to an appropriate level.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONS

Aspects of the present inventions provide a food container thatcomprises an integrated lid that may be folded over the top of thecontainer. The lid is preferably manufactured as part of the foodcontainer, and prevents or reduces the likelihood of food containedtherein from easily being spilled or from losing heat. Additionally, theintegrated lid described herein is configured to permit operationthereof with one hand, and as the lid is part of the food containeritself the lid is less likely to be lost or damaged. Further, the foodcontainer described herein is configured to fit in a standard cup holderand to reduce or prevent spillage from the food container Additionally,the food container comprises a recessed portion that may permit anemployee, when filling the container with food, to easily determine whenthe level of food has reached a certain fill point.

Accordingly, an aspect of the present invention involves a containercomprising a base and a body having a wall section and a lid section.The wall section extends from the base to a top edge to define an innerspace within the container. The top edge has an arcuate section suchthat the top edge dips from a first height above the base to a secondlower height above the base. The lid section is integrally formed withthe wall section, with an arcuate score line being disposed between thelid section and the wall section. The score line extends from a firstpoint along the top edge to a second point along the tope edge and issufficiently deep to hingedly link the lid section to the wall section.The lid section is movable from an open position to a closed position byhingedly folding along the score line.

Another aspect of the present invention involves a container thatincludes a base and a body. The body has a score line that defines atleast a wall and an integral lid. The wall extends upward from the baseand includes an arcuate section along a top edge of the wall. Thearcuate section is disposed above the base such that a point on thearcuate section, which is closest to the base, corresponds with adesired fill level of the container. The arcuate section and the scoreline are disposed on opposite sides of the base.

In accordance with a preferred method of indicating a desired fill levelfor contents of a container having an integrated lid section, a body ofthe container is scored to define an arcuate score line, which defines awall section and a lid section. The wall section is formed with anarcuate section having a substantially similar shape to the arcuatescore line. The body of the container is positioned relative to a basesuch that a minimum distance between the arcuate section and the basecorresponds to a desired fill level for the container. The body isattached to the base with the arcuate score line and the arcuate sectionbeing disposed on opposite sides of the base. The steps of this methodof course need not be performed in the order described above.

For purposes of summarizing the invention, certain embodiments,advantages, and features of the invention have been described herein. Ofcourse, it is to be understood that not necessarily all suchembodiments, advantages, or features are required in any particularembodiment of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above-identified features, aspects, and advantages of the presentinvention now will be described with reference to the drawings ofseveral preferred embodiments, which embodiments are intended toillustrate and are not intended to limit the invention.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a food container inaccordance with principles of the invention described herein.

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the food container illustrated inFIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a rear view of the food container illustrated in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the food container of FIG. 1 in a closedconfiguration.

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of the closed food container of FIG.4.

FIG. 6 a is a bottom view of an embodiment of the food container inaccordance with principles described herein.

FIG. 6 b is a bottom view of another embodiment of a food container.

FIG. 6 c is a bottom view of another embodiment of a food container.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTIONS

With reference to the figures, certain embodiments will be described,which embodiments provide a food container that is configured to enclosefood placed therein with an integrated lid.

The present invention provides aspects, features, embodiments, andadvantages of a food container that comprises an integrated lid. In oneembodiment, the lid may be folded to cover the top opening of thecontainer. The body of the container and the lid portion are preferablyintegrally manufactured. As described herein, the lid is preferably partof the food container, thus the lid is less likely to be lost ordamaged. The container is also configured to permit a worker using onehand to manipulate the lid between an open configuration and a closedconfiguration. When the lid is closed, the lid can prevent or reducespillage and heat loss from the container. The lid of the container canalso provide an integrated scoop that permits employees to scoop upfoods when the lid is in the open configuration. A recessed portion ispreferably provided that permits an employee to easily reference whenthe food level has reached a certain point while filling the foodcontainer from a holding bin (for example, from an overhead bin).

In accordance with the preferred embodiment, and as illustrated in FIG.1, the food container 20 comprises a food containing portion 22 and alid portion 24. The lid portion 24 is preferably manufactured as part ofthe food containing portion 22, and the two portions 22, 24 may be madeof the same material. The food container 20 also comprises a front side26, a rear side 28, a top 30, and a base 32. The food containing portion22 preferably defines a volume in which food may be placed forcontainment. The food containing portion 22 extends from the base 32toward the top 30 to a point where the rear of the food containingportion 22 is adjacent to the lid portion 24. The food containingportion may be manufactured in accordance with standard manufacturingprocesses for producing common restaurant industry beverage cups. Forexample, the food container 20 may generally comprise paper with acoating, having a base 32 that can be press fit or glued to the foodcontaining portion 22. The food container 20 may also be manufacturedwith other materials. For example, the container 20 may comprise plasticthat is formed by thermal forming, injection molding, etc.

In one embodiment, the food containing portion 22 preferably includes,on the top front portion, an arcuate edge 34 that extends towards thefront 26 from two diametrically opposed folding corners 36. In otherembodiments, the two folding corners 36 may be located in positions thatare not diametrical. The arcuate edge 34 preferably has an arcuate edgebase 38 toward the front 26 of the food container 20. As shown in theillustrated FIG. 1, the arcuate edge base 38 is the closest portion ofthe arcuate edge 34 to the base 32.

Preferably adjacent the lid portion 24 and the food containing portion22 is an arcuate crease or score line 40 that extends toward the rear 28and base 38 of the food container 20 from the folding corners 36. Insome modes, the arcuate score line 40 can be perforated. Toward the topof the lid portion 24 is preferably a forward lip 42 that is situated ata farthest distance from the base 38 along an arcuate lip 44, whicharcuate lip 44 preferably extends toward the rear 28 and top 30 of thefood container 20 between the folding corners 36. The forward lip 42 islocated at a farthest point along the arcuate lip 44 from the base 32.

In one embodiment, the base 32 may have a cross-sectional measurement,or diameter, of about 2 inches. In other embodiments, the base 32 mayhave a cross-sectional measurement of between about 1.5 inches and about3 inches. In yet other embodiments, the base 32 may have across-sectional measurement less than about 1.5 inches and greater thanabout 3 inches.

In one embodiment, the arcuate edge base 38 may be about 4 inches fromthe base 32. In some embodiments, the base 38 may be between about 2.5inches and about 6 inches from the base 32, and in other embodiments,the base 38 may be less than about 2.5 inches and greater than about 6inches.

In one embodiment, a cross-sectional measurement, or diameter, of thefood container portion 22 at the arcuate edge base 38 may be about 3inches. In some embodiments, the measurements may be between about 2inches and about 5 inches. In yet other embodiments, the measurement maybe less than about 2 inches and greater than about 5 inches.

In one embodiment, the folding corners 36 may be located about one-halfof the cross-sectional measurement (e.g., half of the diameter) of thefood container portion 22 rearwardly of the arcuate edge base 38. Insome embodiments, the folding corners 36 are located the length of aradius R from the arcuate edge base 38. In some embodiments, the foldingcorners 36 may be located between about one-third and about two-thirdsof the cross-sectional measurement of the food container portion 22rearwardly of the arcuate edge base 38. In other embodiments, thefolding corners 36 may be located less than about one-third and morethan about two-thirds of the cross-sectional measurement of the foodcontainer portion 22 rearwardly of the arcuate edge base 38.

The folding corners 36 may be a length L1 above the arcuate edge base38. In one embodiment, the folding corners 36 are about 1.5 inches abovethe arcuate edge base 38. In some embodiments the folding corners 36 maybe between about 1 inch and about 2.5 inches above the base 38. In yetother embodiments, the folding corners 36 may be less than about 1 inchand more than about 2.5 inches above the base 38.

The arcuate edge 34 and the arcuate lip 44 preferably define a topopening 46 of the food container 20. The top opening 46 may beconfigured to extend from the front 26 of the food container 20 to therear 28 of the food container 20 at about a 45° angle with respect to aplane defined by the base 32. In some embodiments, the angle of the topopening 42 may range from about 30° to about 60° with respect to theplane defined by the base 32. In other embodiments, the top opening 46may extend at an angle less than about 30° or more than about 60° withrespect to the base 32.

In some embodiments, the angle may be uniform while in other embodimentsthe top opening 46 may assume multiple shapes or angles. For example,the top opening 46 may assume a sinusoidal shape, such as illustrated inFIG. 2. In other embodiments, the top opening 46 assume irregularshapes.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, the arcuate crease 40, which delineates thetransition of the food container 20 between the lid portion 24 and thefood containing portion 22, preferably extends between the foldingcorners 36 rearwardly toward the base 32 to form an arcuate crease base48. The arcuate crease base 48 is preferably the closest point along thearcuate crease 40 to the base 32, as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3. Insome embodiments, the arcuate crease base 48 is the same distance fromthe base 32 as the arcuate edge base 38.

In one embodiment, the arcuate crease base 48 is about 4 inches abovethe base 32. In some embodiments, the arcuate crease base 48 may bebetween about 2.5 inches and about 6 inches from the base 32, and inother embodiments, the base 48 may be less than about 2.5 inches andgreater than about 6 inches from the base 32.

In one embodiment, the forward lip 42 is a length L2 above the arcuatecrease base 48. For example, the forward lip 42 may be about 3 inchesabove the arcuate crease base 48. In some embodiments, the forward lip42 is between about 2 inches and about 5 inches above the arcuate creasebase 48. In yet other embodiments, the forward lip 42 is less than about2 inches and more than about 5 inches above the arcuate crease base 48.

In some embodiments, the semi-cylindrical shape of the food portion 22or base 32 has an axis. In a preferred embodiment, the arcuate edge base38 is about 1.5 inches from the axis. In other embodiments, the arcuateedge base 38 is between about 1 inch and 2.5 inches from the axis. Infurther embodiments, the arcuate edge base 38 is less than about 1 inchand more than about 2.5 inches from the axis. The folding corners 36 maybe diametrically aligned about the axis, or the folding corners 36 maybe offset from the axis such that a chord between the two foldingcorners 36 does not intersect the axis.

The arcuate crease 40 is preferably configured such that when theforward lip 42 is pressed toward the front side 26 of the food container20, the lid portion 24 folds along the arcuate crease 40 between thefolding corners 36, and the forward lip 42 is brought or pressed forwardtoward the arcuate edge base 38. In one embodiment, as illustrated inFIGS. 1-3, when the food container 20 is in an open position, the lidportion is convexly shaped toward the rear 28. When the lid portion 24is closed, such as shown in FIG. 4, the lid portion 24 may assume aconcave shape extending between the folding corners 36.

When in the open configuration, the arcuate lip 44 is in a convexconfiguration and the arcuate edge 34 is in a concave configuration. Inone embodiment, when the lip portion 24 is brought forward to close thetop of the container, the arcuate lip 44 inverts to assume a concaveconfiguration similar to that of the arcuate edge 34. In someembodiments, when closed, the arcuate lip 44 is configured to besubstantially aligned with the concave configuration of the arcuate edge34. Accordingly, the forward lip 42 is situated adjacent to the arcuateedge base 38.

When the lip portion 24 is in the closed configuration, as illustratedin FIGS. 4 and 5, the lid portion 24 preferably covers the foodcontaining portion 22. When closed, the food container 20 may permit asmall amount of space between the lid portion 24 and the arcuate edge34, as illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5, or the lid portion 24 may beconfigured to press against the arcuate edge 34 when closed. Variousconfigurations of the food container 20 may be achieved by altering thelocation of the folding corners 36 and the arcuate crease 40.

Preferably, the food container 20 has a lid portion 24 that is capableof bi-stable positioning. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 2, whenthe lid portion is in the open position, the lid portion is in a stableposition. However, when the lid portion is brought forward, the lidportion will preferably either open, or if extended towards the front 26of the food container 20, the concave shape of the lid portion 24 biasesthe lid portion 24 to close, such as illustrated in FIG. 4. Thebi-stable positioning can increase the likelihood that food will be keptwithin the food container 20 when closed. Additionally, the consumer isonly required to open or close the lid portion 24 partially and the lidportion will move into the desired position.

As illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5, when the food container 20 is a closedposition, the bi-stable feature of the lid portion reduces thelikelihood that food will fall out of the top opening 46 if the foodcontainer 20 is tipped or dropped is reduced. Additionally, when the lidportion 24 is in a closed position, the lid portion 24 reduces theamount of heat that escapes from the food through the top opening 46.Further, because the lid portion 24 is part of the food container 20 andmanufactured integrally with the food containing portion 22, the lidportion 24 is less likely to detach from the food containing portion 22than are other commonly used lids by restaurants. Accordingly, the lidof the food container 20 is less likely to be lost or damaged.

The bi-stable feature of the lid portion 24 also permits the consumer tooperate the food container 20 with a single hand. To close the lid, theconsumer may press on the rear of the lid portion 24 until the lidportion 24 is brought forward toward the front side 26 of the foodcontainer 20 until the lid portion 24 extends beyond a bi-stable point,at which point the lid portion 24 will assume the closed position. Whenthis is accomplished, the lid portion 24, which had a convexconfiguration in the open position, assumes a concave configuration andis biased in the closed position.

To open the food container 20, the consumer presses rearwardly andupwardly on the front side of the lid portion 24 until the lid portion24 extends rearwardly of the bi-stable point, at which point the lidportion 24 will assume a convex configuration and be biased in the openposition. As used herein, “bi-stable point” is used in its ordinarysense and is meant to include, without limitation, a point at which thelid portion 24 may assume any one of a plurality of positions. Forexample, in one embodiment, this point may be defined as the location atwhich the lid portion 24 switches between the convex and concaveconfigurations. In some embodiments, this point may be different whenswitching from convex to concave than when switching from concave toconvex.

Further advantages that are realized by the food container 20 may beexplained with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. As shown in FIG. 1, the topopening 46 is configured to permit the food container 20 to scoop foodfrom a bin. The forward lip 42 and the arcuate lip 44 form a scoop thatpermits an employee or a consumer to scoop food with the food container20.

The arcuate edge 34 also permits an employee to easily reference thelevel of food that is placed in the food container 20 until the foodrises to the level of the arcuate edge 34. For example, when an employeefills the container 20 with food from an overhead bin, or hopper, thearcuate edge 34 permits the employee see inside the food containingportion 22. When the level of food raises to a predetermined or desiredlevel, which may be adjacent the arcuate edge base 38, the employee mayknow that the food container 20 is adequately filled. In one embodiment,the arcuate edge base 38 is closer to the base 32 than any other pointalong the top opening 46, thereby permitting the employee to looktherein to determine whether the level of food has reached an adequatelevel.

In one embodiment, the food container 20 is intended to hold food to thelevel of the arcuate edge base 38. In this embodiment, the employee maysee into the food containing portion through the arcuate edge 34 untilthe food rises in the food containing portion 22 to the arcuate edgebase 38. This is particularly advantageous with respect to overheadbins, in which food is dropped into a food container, making itparticularly difficult for an employee to determine the level of foodthat is within the food container.

In some embodiments, the food container 20 may have a circular base 32,as illustrated in FIG. 6 a. Preferably, the food container 20 isconfigured to permit placement thereof in a commonly-used cup holderthat is used by either the restaurant industry establishment forproviding drinks to a consumer or a consumer's cup holder located withinan automobile. Other base configurations may also be used in which thefood container 20 is configured to fit within a cup holder. Other suchembodiments may include an oval shape, such as illustrated in FIG. 6 b,or a polygonal shape, as illustrated in FIG. 6 c. Other shapes of basesmay also be used, for example, the base may also be irregularly-shaped.

Although the lid portion is illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 as assuming aconvex shape in the open position and a concave shape in the closedposition, the lid portion 24 may assume multiple shapes, such aspolygonal shapes, irregular shapes, etc. Further, although the foldingcorners 36 are described as being diametrically opposed along the topopening 46, the folding corners 36 may have configurations in which theyare not diametrically opposed. Although the arcuate edge 34 and thearcuate lip 44 are described as assuming arcuate shapes, it iscontemplated that the arcuate edge 34 and the arcuate lip 44 may assumeother shapes, such as polygonal shapes, irregular shapes, etc.

Although the present invention has been disclosed in the context ofcertain preferred embodiments and examples, it will be understood bythose skilled in the art that the present invention extends beyond thespecifically disclosed embodiments to other alternative embodimentsand/or uses of the present invention and obvious modifications andequivalents thereof. In addition, while a number of variations of thepresent invention have been shown and described in detail, othermodifications, which are within the scope of present invention, will bereadily apparent to those of skill in the art based upon thisdisclosure. It is also contemplated that various combinations orsubcombinations of the specific features and aspects of the embodimentsmay be made and still fall within the scope of the present invention.Accordingly, it should be understood that various features and aspectsof the disclosed embodiments can be combined with or substituted for oneanother in order to form varying modes of the present invention. Thus,it is intended that the scope of the present invention herein disclosedshould not be limited by the particular disclosed embodiments describedabove, but should be determined only by a fair reading of the claimsthat follow.

1. A container comprising: a base; and a body having a wall section anda lid section; the wall section extending from the base to a top edge todefine an inner space within the container, the top edge having anarcuate section such that the top edge dips from a first height abovethe base to a second lower height above the base; and the lid sectionbeing integrally formed with the wall section with an arcuate score linedisposed between the lid section and the wall section, the score lineextending from a first point along said top edge to a second point alongthe top edge and being sufficiently deep to hingedly link the lidsection to the wall section, the lid section being movable from an openposition to a closed position by hingedly folding along the score line.2. The container of claim 1 wherein the perimeter of the base comprisesa circle.
 3. The container of claim 1 wherein the arcuate section on thetop edge of the wall section has a substantially similar shape to thatof the arcuate score line between the lid section and the wall section.4. The container of claim 3, wherein the arcuate section of the top edgeof the wall section is diametrically opposed to the arcuate score linebetween the lid section and the wall section.
 5. The container of claim3 wherein the arcuate section of the top edge is substantiallysymmetrical with the arcuate score line.
 6. The container of claim 1,wherein the arcuate section on the top edge of the wall section and thearcuate score line are substantially symmetrical and are disposed onopposites sides of the wall section.
 7. The container of claim 1 whereinthe height of the top edge at its lowest point corresponds with adesired fill level of the container.
 8. The container of claim 1 whereinthe lid section is configured to have bi-stable positioning.
 9. Thecontainer of claim 1, wherein the lid section adjacent the score linehas a convex outer side when the lid section lies in the open positionand has a concave outer side when the lid lies in the closed position.10. The container of claim 1, wherein the lid section includes an outeredge that extends between the first and second points on the upper edgeand at least a section of the outer edge having a curved shape.
 11. Acontainer comprising: a base; and a body having a score line thatdefines at least a wall and an integral lid, the wall extending upwardfrom the base and including an arcuate section along a top edge of thewall, the arcuate section being disposed above the base such that apoint on the arcuate section, which is closest to the base, correspondswith a desired fill level of the container, and the arcuate section andthe score line are disposed on opposite sides of the base.
 12. Thecontainer of claim 11 wherein the lid is configured to be used as ascoop when in the open position.
 13. The container of claim 11 whereinthe lid is configured to have bi-stable positioning.
 14. The containerof claim 11 wherein when the lid is in a closed position a first side ofthe top edge substantially meets a second side of the top edge.
 15. Thecontainer of claim 11 wherein a point of intersection of the arcuatesection and the score line is an axial distance of 1 inch to 2.5 inchesfrom the point on the arcuate section which is closest to the base. 16.The container of claim 15 wherein a point of intersection of the arcuatesection and the score line is an axial distance of 1.25 inches to 1.75inches from the point on the arcuate section which is closest to thebase.
 17. The container of claim 11 wherein the arcuate sectioncomprises ⅓ to ⅔ of the top edge of the wall.
 18. The container of claim11 wherein a cross-section of the container has a radius R, and whereina point of intersection of the arcuate section and the score line is aradial distance of 0.8 R to 1.2 R from the point on the arcuate section,which is closest to the base.
 19. The container of claim 11 wherein across-section of the container has a radius R, and wherein a point ofintersection of the arcuate section and the score line is a radialdistance of ⅔ R to 4/3 R from the point on the arcuate section, which isclosest to the base.
 20. A method of indicating a desired fill level forcontents of a container having an integrated lid section, the methodcomprising: scoring a body of a container to define an arcuate scoreline, the score line defining a wall section and a lid section, forminga wall section of a container with an arcuate section having asubstantially similar shape to the arcuate score line; positioning thebody relative to a base such that a minimum distance between the arcuatesection and the base corresponds to a desired fill level for thecontainer; and attaching the body to the base with the arcuate scoreline and the arcuate section being disposed on opposite sides of thebase.